US CHIPS Act office lays off about a third of its staff, sources say

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - About one-third of the unit successful the U.S. Commerce Department bureau overseeing $39 cardinal of manufacturing subsidies for chipmakers was laid disconnected this week, 2 sources acquainted with the concern said.

The Commerce Department did not respond to requests for comment.

Reuters reported past period that the caller Trump administration, which has embarked connected a melodramatic overhaul of the national government, is reviewing the projects awarded nether the 2022 U.S. CHIPS Act. That instrumentality is meant to boost U.S. home semiconductor output with grants and loans to companies crossed the spot industry.

About 40 unit members mislaid their jobs connected Monday, said the sources, who spoke connected information of anonymity. The staffers, who had probationary status, received emails astatine astir 2 p.m. EST connected Monday that they were terminated and they were retired the doorway by 4 p.m., 1 of the radical said.

Some 20 different staffers departed past week arsenic portion of the government's deferred resignation program, the idiosyncratic said.

The main concern serviceman of the office, Todd Fisher, resigned past week, according to an email seen by Reuters. A root acquainted with the concern said his resignation was planned successful caller months.

(Reporting by Karen Freifeld, David Shepardson and Alexandra Alper; Editing by Paul Simao)